Alyssum plant named ‘Golden Spring’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alyssum  plant named ‘Golden Spring’, characterized by its bright yellow-colored flowers, greyed-green colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Alyssum wulfenianum.

Variety denomination: ‘Golden Spring’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alyssumplant botanically known as Alyssum wulfenianum and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Golden Spring’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during August 2009. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of vegetative Alyssum cultivars having largebright-colored flowers.

The new Alyssum cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Alyssum wulfenianumbreeding selection coded 2943, unpatented, characterized by its mediumyellow-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the newcultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedopen-pollination during March 2010 in a controlled environment inGuadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMarch 2010 in Guadalupe, Calif. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated thatthe new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Golden Spring’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Alyssum plant:

-   -   1. Bright yellow-colored flowers;    -   2. Greyed-green colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having a brighter flower color and larger flower size.

Alyssum ‘Golden Spring’ is the first cultivar of the species andtherefore comparison is made to the common species form which isreproduced by seed for the marketplace. In comparison, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of the species form primarily in flower andinflorescence size. Plants of the new cultivar have larger-sized flowersand larger-sized inflorescences than the common species form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Golden Spring’.The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for 8 months in agreenhouse in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given two pinches, once at linerstage and once two weeks after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Golden Spring’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Golden Spring’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in May 2013 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill. The following descriptions andmeasurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plantsand grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable tothose used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill.in one-gallon containers for 8 months utilizing a soilless growthmedium. Plants were given two pinches, once at liner stage and once twoweeks after transplant Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day andapproximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. Nosupplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Alyssum wulfenianum cultivar Golden    Spring.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Alyssum wulfenianum breeding            selection coded 2943, unpatented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 35 to 42            days.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 26 to 30 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            spreading.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 12.0 cm. Width: Approximately 33.5 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Somewhat freely branching, pinching            enhances lateral branching. Quantity of main branches per            plant: Approximately 19.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Length to base of            inflorescence: Approximately 13.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent in tufts            appressed to stem. Color of young stem: 138B. Color of            mature stem: 138B, with a woody overlay of N199B at base.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 13. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: At an acute angle to perpendicular to stem.            Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute.            Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature            leaf: Approximately 2.3 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Densely pubescent in tufts appressed to leaf. Color of upper            surface of young and mature foliage: 137A with midvein of            138A, overall appearance greyed-green due to pubescence.            Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: 138A            with midvein of 138B, overall appearance greyed-green due to            pubescence.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent in tufts            appressed to petiole. Color of upper surface: 138A. Color of            lower surface: 138B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Golden Spring’ flowers once a year during            early spring to late spring under outdoor conditions.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            3 to 4 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Indeterminate raceme. Quantity            per plant: Approximately 57. Fragrance: Moderately strong,            sweet. Length or height: Approximately 4.5 to 6.5 cm. Width:            Approximately 2.7 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per            inflorescence: Approximately 9.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Length: Approximately            2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture: Densely            pubescent in tufts appressed to petiole. Color: 138B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type.—Single, not persistent.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            inflorescence: Approximately 3 to 5.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately            3.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely            pubescent in tufts appressed to bud. Color: 144C.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Cruciform. Width: Approximately 8.0 mm.            Depth: Approximately 6.0 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 4. Shape: Obovate. Appearance: Dull.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Obcordate. Length: Approximately            5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first            and fully open: 7A. Color of lower surface when first and            fully open: 7B.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Cup-like. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.            Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent in tufts            appressed to sepals. Color of upper and lower surfaces:            144D.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter: Less than            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent in tufts appressed to            pedicle. Color: 138C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 6 per            flower. Filament length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament            color: N144D. Anther shape: Bilobed. Anther length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 2C. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: 2D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Stigma            shape: Globular. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma            color: N144A. Style length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Style            color: N144D. Ovary length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary            texture: Densely pubescent in tufts appressed to ovary.            Ovary color: 144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Alyssum has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alyssum plantnamed ‘Golden Spring’, substantially as herein illustrated anddescribed.